The reading of the verdict in the widely discussed rape and murder case of Pallabi minor girl in Dhaka’s Mirpur began at 11:05am on Sunday.
Judge Masrur Saleqin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Tribunal for the Prevention of Violence Against Children started reading the verdict at around 11:00am in the presence of the accused.
Earlier in the morning, accused Swapna Khatun was brought to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court premises from Kashimpur Central Jail at 8:25am, while prime accused Sohel Rana was brought from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj at around 8:45am.
Both accused were later kept in the court’s holding cell before being produced before the tribunal at approximately 10:45am.
Security was tightened in and around the court premises ahead of the verdict, with additional police personnel deployed and surveillance increased across the court compound and tribunal area.
Journalists from various media outlets gathered at the court complex early in the morning to cover the proceedings. The verdict has attracted significant public attention, with lawyers, litigants and the public closely following developments. Crowds of onlookers were also seen at different parts of the court premises.
On Thursday, following the conclusion of closing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence, the tribunal set June 7 for delivering the verdict.
The prosecution sought the maximum punishment—the death penalty—for both accused. The defence, meanwhile, pleaded for life imprisonment for Sohel Rana and a lighter sentence for Swapna Khatun.
The verdict in the high-profile case has drawn nationwide attention, with victim’s family and people across the country awaiting for the court’s decision.
